Chapter 697: Let Them Come Alive

Xu Gangsheng, a legendary figure who has been retired from acting for many years.

Looking across all of Asia, he is also one of the most influential male stars; after all, the Hong Kong Style of the past once swept through neighboring countries like a frenzy.

And in reality, Xu Gangsheng is also one of the most influential and well-known Huaxia male stars over in Hollywood.

On Earth, Fa Ge, relying on the film *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon* directed by Li An, could be said to have had a very fruitful harvest at that year's Oscar ceremony.

He not only successfully took home 【Best Cinematography】, 【Best Art Direction】, and 【Best Original Score】, but also directly won the 【Best Foreign Language Film】.

At the same time, even major awards like 【Best Director】, 【Best Picture】, and 【Best Adapted Screenplay】 received nominations!

It can be said that the performance of *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon* that year was formidable in every aspect, and it also caused Fa Ge's popularity and status overseas to soar once again.

On Blue Star, although Xu Gangsheng's past experiences cannot be said to be exactly the same as Zhou Runfa's, they share many similarities.

For such a person, after retiring from acting, the difficulty level of inviting him to come out of retirement is hellish.

At this moment, Director Tian Ou is so jealous he is almost going crazy.

"Chen Zuhe and Zhao Huan are already scary enough."

"But after all, they can only be considered semi-retired, because they are not young anymore, and their choices for film projects can only be said to be more picky than before."

"But for Xu Gangsheng to come, that is simply too exaggerated!"

The audience hasn't seen him act for a full four years and more.

Every time they see him in the news, he is either accompanying his wife to buy groceries, or he is fishing...

For someone at the level of Tian Ou, let alone inviting Xu Gangsheng out of retirement, he doesn't even have the ability to get his script looked at by Xu Gangsheng.

Originally, Luo Mo intended to announce one lead actor per day, so that he could keep it on the Hot Search for a few more days.

However, he thought about it later, and the confidentiality work is a bit hard to do.

At first, wasn't it to have Xu Gangsheng film *Peerless* first? That way, he wouldn't appear on the set of *Let the Bullets Fly* for the time being.

But who the hell knew that Hua Jiaqun would go crazy over there.

——Making counterfeit money, I am serious!

Sometimes Luo Mo is very glad that it's a Hong Kong film he's filming; if you were filming in Beijing, the Morning Sun masses wouldn't let you off.

"What? You say you're working on a film, and you're the president?"

"It's the president we're arresting!"

Therefore, since Xu Gangsheng has already appeared on the set of *Let the Bullets Fly*, then just go ahead and drop a nuclear-level piece of big news to make the entire entertainment industry shake!

The development of the situation was indeed as Luo Mo had expected.

Netizens are always on the front lines of gossip.

As soon as the group photo of the cast was released, countless people flooded in.

As a result, everyone was completely dumbfounded.

"Holy crap, what kind of heaven-defying combination is this?"

"Three Best Actors plus a Luo Mo, it feels like all four kings from two decks of cards have been caught!"

"Awesome, how did you manage to get them all together?"

"Xu Gangsheng has already retired, didn't he stop making movies?"

"I'm looking forward to this so much!"

Honestly, among actors of this generation, Luo Mo hasn't collaborated with many in terms of film.

Among all the lead actors in Luo Mo's films so far, Wang Rong is considered one of the oldest.

And in reality, people like Xu Gangsheng, once they reach a certain status in the industry, have not collaborated with such young directors again.

Looking across the entire entertainment industry, for young directors under 30, let alone getting the three of them together, wanting to invite any one of them is difficult!

Therefore, the shock this group photo brought to industry insiders is the greatest!

Especially those who had also sent scripts to Zhao Huan and the others and were then rejected.

"Zhao Huan and Chen Zuhe are notoriously picky about scripts."

"Ordinary scripts simply can't catch their eyes."

"Still talking about ordinary scripts? I heard that just last month, screenwriter Li Hui's new script was rejected by Chen Zuhe!"

"Ah? Even Li Hui doesn't work? He's a three-time 【Best Screenwriter】 winner of the 【Fan Hua Award】."

"Still talking about the 【Fan Hua Award】? What's so great about winning it three times? Luo Mo himself already disdains this award."

"The main thing is still Xu Gangsheng. I heard that in the years he's been retired, three of the Four Great Directors have looked for him, wanting him to make a comeback!"

"Director Li Dongliang's film last year also wanted to invite him, and he kept saying publicly that it was tailor-made for him, but didn't he not come in the end?"

"It's a good thing he didn't go; wouldn't that be smashing his own brand? Director Li Dongliang was probably eyeing Xu Gangsheng's overseas popularity."

They say laymen watch the excitement, while insiders watch the technique.

Netizens are all saying "awesome" one after another, but these industry insiders are already thinking about what exactly Luo Mo relied on to attract these three people.

And what was the entire invitation process like?

You have to know, even though Luo Mo is currently at the height of his career, for Xu Gangsheng, since he has already retired and once stood at the peak of the industry, making one more successful film or one less successful film doesn't actually make much of a difference to him.

Unless... in his view, this film will be a heavy, colorful stroke in his acting career!

All of a sudden, many people who are also filming new movies only think: "Luo Mo's new film, better avoid it if we can."

Originally, with Luo Mo's reputation, it was already enough to make people fearful.

Now with the addition of Xu Gangsheng and the others, isn't that whoever touches it dies?

On the other side, when Director Li Dongliang learned of this news, there was no situation of his Dao heart becoming unstable.

In the past, he was often angered by Luo Mo to the point of his Dao heart becoming unstable: "You brat, how dare you ruin my Dao heart!"

This time, it was a rare moment of calm aura, and he felt that everything was within reason.

"So he invited these three big shots to film a new movie."

"In that case, he must be planning to pour all his energy into it."

"If so, it is only natural that he declined the invitation to the CCTV New Year's Eve Gala."

"After all, for him, there has long been no need for large-scale holiday galas to gild his reputation."

—"So that's it, so that's it"!

As for Director Chen, after hearing Li Dongliang's analysis, he felt even more convinced that he had been right to give Ning Dan a stern warning.

If Luo Mo were to devote himself heart and soul to his new film, then even if Ning Dan were to serve as the General Director, he might not necessarily come to participate in the gala.

………

………

Amidst the anticipation of the entire internet and the shock of the whole industry, "Let the Bullets Fly" officially began filming.

During these past few days, the registration channel for the CCTV New Year's Eve Gala also officially closed.

As for the other satellite TV stations, they followed the principle that CCTV picks first and we pick what is left, so they had not yet widely issued "invitations to heroes."

Li Dongliang and Director Chen looked at the registration list, and those second and third-tier Singers from New Yu, as expected, had not taken the initiative to sign up.

In Director Chen's view, these people would likely go to support Ning Dan and go to Octopus TV to perform.

Luo Mo definitely would not dare to openly go against CCTV.

This was just a way for him to support Ning Dan.

However, the elite troops and capable generals under his command, such as Tong Shu, Li Junyi, and Fengge Group, were all on the 【Special Invitation List】 of CCTV.

These people were equivalent to having "forfeited the competition"; they could not go anywhere.

As for these second and third-tier Singers, let them be a bargain for Octopus TV.

Director Li Dongliang now only wanted to produce more profound and meaningful programs so that everyone could see his style.

At nightfall, Luo Mo, who had been busy all day, returned to the hotel.

It was already eleven-thirty in the evening.

And Ning Dan and the station head of Octopus TV, Xu Guan, were still waiting for him to return to his room to hold a video conference.

Luo Mo knew that Ning Dan was a woman who could really stir things up at night.

She slept very late and got up very early.

But it seemed that many women were quite magical, as if they didn't need to sleep at all.

On the contrary, the station head of Octopus TV, Xu Guan, was at his age and was the dignified head of a satellite TV station, yet he was still staying up late waiting for Luo Mo to become available, which showed how much he valued Luo Mo.

This video conference between the three of them was mainly to set some of the tone for this New Year's Eve Gala.

This was also one of Luo Mo's job responsibilities.

This time, he was not only participating in the Octopus TV New Year's Eve Gala, but he was also serving as the... Chief Planner for this gala!

Luo Mo looked at Run Jie and Xu Guan on the video call and said, "Since it is the Octopus TV New Year's Eve Gala, I personally feel that we should bring out some of the unique aspects of our province."

"Station Head Xu, what do you think?"

"That goes without saying! That would certainly be for the best!" Xu Guan's eyes lit up.

It was just that he didn't know yet what exactly Luo Mo wanted to do.

At this moment, Ning Dan was also staring intently at Luo Mo with interest, saying, "Stop keeping us in suspense; it's almost twelve o'clock."

Luo Mo smiled and said, "In the province where our Octopus TV is located, I personally feel there is a very special place, and that is—cultural heritage!"

This sentence truly struck a chord with Xu Guan.

So... was he going to promote culture?

"So, are you planning to create a few songs in the Chinese Style?" Ning Dan asked.

Luo Mo shook his head and said, "Songs are only one aspect; this time, I want to try a new field."

"Then what type of stage are you planning to put together?" Ning Dan asked.

"Dance," Luo Mo answered.

"A dance category?" This left both Ning Dan and Xu Guan in silence.

On Blue Star, dance-themed stages had always acted only as something similar to an 【Atmosphere Group】, even in the Spring Festival Gala.

As for Octopus TV, not a single dance program that had broken out of its niche had ever appeared.

This would not be easy to handle.

But Luo Mo did not think so.

One must know that on Earth, there was a satellite TV station that had been reborn since 2021, and it had relied on dance-themed programs.

It was called Henan TV.

That year, at the station's promotional conference, the leadership was still shouting heartbrokenly that we have no money, cannot afford to buy programs, and cannot afford to hire big stars; everyone remember, only innovation is our only way out!

And then, the road to becoming legendary began!

For Ning Dan and Xu Guan, they had always felt that the trump card they held for this year's Octopus TV New Year's Eve Gala was the singing programs.

With the participation of Luo Mo and others, this year's singing stage, even if not a single new song was sung and only old songs were performed, could crush any satellite TV station, or even CCTV!

To win, one had to rely on Singing!

But Luo Mo was not satisfied with this.

If he only relied on singing stages, then it would actually be no different from previous years.

It would just be this group of people moving from CCTV to a local satellite TV station.

At best, it could only be considered a change of venue.

Then he would feel that his role as 【Chief Planner】 was actually not much different from being a 【Music Director】 at the company.

The province where Octopus TV is located has its own cultural advantages.

If they didn't make use of them, it would be a real pity.

In the video conference, Luo Mo looked at the two of them and said, "Actually, Station Master Xu, before I came to the production crew, I secretly took a trip to your Provincial Museum."

Upon hearing this, Xu Guan was stunned for a moment.

Weren't they talking about dance? Why did the conversation suddenly shift to the Provincial Museum?

The leap between these topics was a bit large, wasn't it?

But Xu Guan still pulled himself together and said with a smile, "How was the experience?"

"An eye-opener!" Luo Mo replied with four words.

The history of Blue Star had similarities with that of Earth, but there were also differences.

Therefore, Luo Mo indeed had a very strange experience visiting the museum.

He was looking for the similarities, and he was also looking for the differences.

In this world, he was the only one with the brilliant civilizations of two worlds hidden in his mind.

Precisely because of this, he had a unique feeling while swimming in the ocean of history.

Ning Dan looked at Luo Mo, pondered for a moment, and said, "Are you thinking of collaborating with the Provincial Museum?"

"You could say that." Luo Mo nodded and said, "This will require Station Master Xu to step in."

Upon hearing this, Xu Guan immediately gave his guarantee.

His eyes lit up: "It seems Luo Mo found some inspiration in the museum?"

Luo Mo smiled and said, "For a dance-themed stage, there is no need to invite popular stars; this can actually reduce some costs."

You must know that on Earth, the 2021 Henan TV Spring Festival Gala that captivated the audience's attention was rumored to have a total budget of only 5 million.

Whether this news was true or false, Luo Mo was not sure.

But the budget certainly wouldn't have been too high, that much was certain.

"Tell us, how exactly would you operate this?" Ning Dan said.

Luo Mo nodded and said, "This brings us back to the topic from just now, back to the Provincial Museum."

Luo Mo spoke word by word, while Ning Dan and Xu Guan were greatly astonished.

"In one sentence—I want to make the cultural relics in the Provincial Museum come to life!"

This was Luo Mo's idea!

"Make the cultural relics come to life?" Ning Dan lowered her head in thought, finding it more and more interesting the more she thought about it.

Xu Guan, on the other hand, listened in stunned silence.

Luo Mo began to detail his concepts and arrangements, and the two of them became more and more astonished and excited as they listened.

What he wanted was to replicate the success of the Henan TV Spring Festival Gala from Earth, based on the history and cultural relics of Blue Star!

There were difficulties involved, but after visiting the Provincial Museum, Luo Mo felt that some stages could still be achieved.

After the video conference ended, it was already half-past twelve.

Luo Mo immediately went to the bathroom to wash up, then, feeling slightly exhausted, lay on the large bed in a spread-eagled position.

Is it really easy to create a shocking gala program with a small budget?

Actually, it is not.

He looked at the ceiling of the hotel room and muttered to himself.

"They say it was 5 million, but in reality, there was also the 5,000 years of this place."

(End of this chapter)